Lock bolt construction



?atented Mar. 31, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCK BOLT CONSTRUCTION I Leslie M. Baker, Evanston, 11!.

Application May 6, 1940, Serial No. 333,509

3 Claims.

My invention relates to a locking bolt and has particular reference to a bolt and nut combination with a key adapted to be inserted in registering slots formed in the threaded portion of the bolt and extending transversely through the nut, the key having a looped end portion adapted to fit over the ball end formed on the bolt so that the nut is held in threaded engagement with the bolt Without danger of loosening or backing off.

Another object of my, invention is the provision of a locking bolt having. a key formed with a looped end portion adapted to be fiitted over the end of the bolt which is especially fashioned with a ball end, so that the key holding the nut against rotation on the threaded portion of the bolt is held firmly in position, and can be easily removed with the fingers of the operator and the nut turned on or off the bolt with the use of the ordinary wrench, as is usual with bolts of this type and character.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a locking bolt which is extreme--. ly simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and does not depend for its efiiciency upon locking washers placed under tension, which ultimately lose their elastic properties due to the fatigue of the metal, thereby allowing the nut to loosen.

Another and further object is the provision of a locking nut and bolt provided with a plurality of channels on the threaded portion of the bolt open at their outer sides, with a plurality of channels in the nut opening out into the opening through the nut, so that one pair of slots may be brought into register with each other with at least each quarter turn of the nut, and thereafter locked in position so that the bolt does not need to be put under excessive strain in order to keep it tight in position.

These and other objects of my invention will be more fully and better understood by reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings, and in which- Figure l is an end elevational view of my improved bolt construction;

Figure 2 is a side view partially in elevation and partially in section of a bolt embodying my invention;

Figure 3 is a side view showing the bolt in elevation and the nut in section, with the locking key in position in the bolt; V

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a nut embodying my invention; and

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the locking key used in the lock combination.

Referring now speciafically to the drawing, and

in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, a bolt III is shown having the usualthreaded portion II thereon and formed with a pair of longitudinally extending, outward- 1y opening slots l2 and I3, these slots extending throughout the threaded portion of the bolt.

from the end of the bolt to the shank thereof A ball-shaped end I4 is provided on the bolt, having a neck portion l5 connecting the ball end ll with the main body of the bolt, this ball end forming the holding member for the locking element hereinafter described.

The .usual nut I6 is provided, threaded in the usual manner and'provided with inwardly opening channels I1, I1 around the inner periphery of-the threaded portion of the nut I6. These channels are located preferably 90 apart on the nut so that only'a' quarter turn is necessary to bring one of them into.register with one of the channels I2 or I3 extending through the threaded portion of the bolt ID.

A locking member I8 is provided having a shaft portion IS, a head portion 20 formed into a. loop at one side thereof, and a portion 2| opposite the portion 20, witha loop 22 joining the portions 20 and 2| at one side of the head portion forming a flngerpiece for the insertion and removal of the locking member. The head portion 20 of the member I8 is preferably made of spring wire so that the portions 20 and 2| are movable with respect to each other and can pass over the ball end I4 of the bolt and grip the neck portion I 5. The locking member I8 is thus securely held in position, with the shaft portion I9 placed in one of the registering slots. I! in the nut I6 and one of the slots '|2 or I3 in the bolt, depending upon which of these slots is in convenient register when the nut is drawn on the bolt to the tightness desired. The shaft portion of the locking member is. sumciently large so that it extends partially into each of the slots.

In the use of the device, the nut is placed upon the bolt in the usual manner and tightened thereon to the degree desired, making sure that one of the slots I1 is in register with one of the slots I2 or I3 in the bolt. The shaft portion I9 of the locking member I8 is then placed into the registering slots on the nut and bolt and the head 20 slipped over the ball l4 on the bolt, thereby locking the member I8 in position upon-the bolt.

separated to allow the holding member to pass portion over the ball end I of the bolt, either through the use of pliers or by the fingers of the operator, and the member l8 withdrawn from the slots in which it is located on the bolt. The nut is then removed in the usual manner.

It ,will be understood that the shaft portion IQ of the locking member it is sufliciently large so 7 that when it is inserted into the registering slots i2 or I3 on the bolt and the slots I! in the nut, it occupies a position partially ineach these slots, preventing any movement of the nut on the threads 0! the bolt by reason of the ends of the threads on the nut engaging against the shank I9 01 the locking member i8. While I have described moreor less precisely the details of construction, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I contemplate changes in formandthe proportion of in combination, a.

tion formed with a loop on one side and a free end portion passing across the said loop. the said loop and free end portion seating in the channel between the ball end portion and the threaded poia'tion oi the bolt on opposite sides of said bolt. bolt having an open channel exmnding longitudinally thereof at its threaded portion and having a ball end portion, a nut having an open channel extending longitudinally thereof in communication with the opening through the nut, and a locking member having a shaft portion adapted to be inserted into the registering channels of the bolt and nut and having a looped end, the looped end being adapted to pass over the said ball end and seat between the said ball end and the body of the bolt.

3. A look bolt comprising in combination, a bolt having a threaded shank portion and having a' rounded end and a neck portion between said shank and the end, a longitudinally extending open channel in the shank portion-on the said threaded end, a nut having an opening therethrough and internally threaded with a longitudinal channel therein, and a locking member having a shank portion extending into the regismunication with the opening through the nut, and a locking member having 'a shatt portion adapted to be inserted into the registering channels of the bolt and nut and having a head portering channels on said bolt and said nut, and a head portion angularly disposed with respect to said shaft portion-comprising leg members adapted to seat in the neck portion on each side thereof.

LESLIE M. BAKER.

A lock bolt comprising in combination, a 

